Treatment of tobacco-leaf.



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GEORGE W. SGOLLAY, on NEW YORK, s. it

TREATMENT OF TOBACCOLEAl-" SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,680, dated July 3'1, 190d.

' Application filed June 24, 1898. Serial No. 684,400.. on specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. SCOLLAY,

I a citizen of the United States, and aresident sequently dipped into or completely covered with a bleaching solution those portions only which have been so treated or sensitized will first and readily absorb and be bleached by the agent. The other portions would of course be bleached in time if the leaf were permitted to remain long enough in the solution; but by removing it after the sensitized portions My invention consists in a novel method of marking tobacco-leaves applicable to various uses--such, for example, as marking a tradename or trade-mark thereon.

It is well known that the color may be removed from vegetable substances, such as tobacco, by placing a leaf thereof in any of the well-known bleaching solutions-such as bromin, chlorin, and their salts-and allowing it to remain there until the color is removed; but the use of such an agent to remove the color of a leaf locallyas, for example, to print a name or symbol thereon is attended with great difficulty. Of course the agent may be with a brush or other implement applied locally; but in that case the bleaching solution or the volatile active principle thereof will evaporate or escape before the bleaching has been entirely accomplished,

and it is extremely diiiicult to prevent the solution spreading and to make the marks in this way with as Well-defined outlines as desired. Any of the ordinary bleaching agents may besuccessfully employed in marking tobacco without local application of the bleaching agent, providing the leaf has been at the places desired to be bleached or marked given a superior or selective capacity or sensitiveness for absorbing or being acted on by the bleaching agent. I have discovered that portions of a tobacco-leaf may be rendered more sensitive to the bleaching agent and given, so to speak, a selective capacity for absorbin g and responding to the action of the bleach ing agent by being subjected to pressure or abrasion or bruising before or at the time the leaf or parts of the leaf are subjected to the action of the bleaching agent. I have discovered that, for example, if a leaf of tobacco be locally subjected to pressure or abrasion in any suitable manner and this leaf be subare bleached the color of the remainder of the leaf remains substantially unaffected. In this way marks may be located, for by washing out the bleaching agent after the parts which it is desired to be bleached are acted upon the desired differentiation of color is maintained. Instead of spbjecting the en tire leaf to the bleaching agent this agent may be applied locally in areas coincident with or exceeding the size of the abraded portions.

In the practice of my invention I preferably first moisten the leaf if it is too dry, so as to render it less brittle, and I then subject, by handas, for example, by a stylus or a suitable die -or by any suitable mechanical means, portions thereof to pressure or abrasion or bruising of any kind and in any way. The bleaching agent is applied either simultaneously or subsequently in areas coincident with or exceeding the parts abraded, as may be preferred. If the bleacher has been applied in areas larger than the desired marks, the leaf preferably is subsequently washed; but if it has been applied in areas no larger than the marks desired washing is unnecessary, but may be resorted to. Any suitable bleaching agent may be employed. At the present time I generally use a solution of chlorid of lime, because it is effective and cheap; but other bleaching agents-may be substituted therefor. If desired, ingredients to quicken combustion such as saltpeter, for example-may be added to the solution or separately applied to the leaf or parts thereof.

What I claim is-=- 1. The process of treating tobacco-leaves which consists in subjecting to crushing or abrasion the surfaces included within the outlines of any mark or design which it is desired te produce upon the leaf, and then subjecting a sufficient portion of the leaf 7 to in elude said mark or design to ableaching agent, a,

2. The process of treating tobacco-leaves 5 which consists in subjecting to crushing or abrading' the surfaces within the outlines of anymark .01 design, it is desired to produce upon the leaf, subjecting a sufficient area of I thejlefaf to inc'liidefsaid iark'to[the actien of a bleaching a gflent, washing said surfaces, 10 and then applying an agent to quicken conibustion;

- GEO. WV. SCOLIJAY.

Witnesses: l

M; WILSON, l FRED S. KEMPERz' 

